Haven't heard it in quite a while, but I can see that one holding up well. I'd also add Tom Petty's Full Moon Fever, and The Traveling Wilburys. Ok, I may get crucified for this one, but I listened to Survivor's Vital Signs last weekend and it sounds great. Much better than when I listened to it in High School.

More generally, I suspect the albums mentioned on this thread will most likely be very subjective to a particular person's musical tastes and whatever stuff one has listened to over the last 20-30+ years.

For example back in the 1980's, I use to really hate bands like Duran Duran. Back in the day, I use to hang out with "headbanger" type crowds, where it was a "cardinal sin" to listen to stuff that wasn't heavy metal (or punk rock). Peer pressure at its utmost silliest extremes, back in school.

Fast forward to the early-mid 2000's, I picked up several Duran Duran albums on impulse, and was listening to them almost non-stop for several months. (I found them at a garage sale for $2 each).

This may be very subjective, but these days I think the first several Duran Duran albums have held up very well over the last 30 years. Back in the 80's and 90's, I wouldn't have thought of Duran Duran in this manner.

Every album I have ever liked holds up now, if it was good 30 years ago, then it's still good. It is the same album, after all.

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Well, same for me. Which is why I put 'on any level'...meaning it doesn't sound dated (still subjective of course) and that you think it would appeal to a lot of people.

But yes, I agree with your sentiment. *I* love all of my 80's albums, but I see how my Altered Images albums sound much like the time they were made in.

Thomas Dolby is just a frigging genius, and as for Frankie Goes to Hollywood...well, I know they resisted doing so many covers, but it serves to give the album an eclectic feel so between that and Holly Johnson's great vocals, it's a hell of an album.

edit: Not to say "The Golden Age of Wireless" doesn't sound like it wasn't made in the 80's, but there's a hell of a lot more to it than keyboardmania.

^Skillful songwriting, I would imagine, but even that is incredibly intangible. It would be interesting to see some psychological or even neurological study that investigates why certain songs appeal to the masses.

As for albums from the 80s that still hold up, I'll nominate Journey's Escape. I know...big surprise.

Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 is in my opinion one of the most cohesive and strong pop albums of all time. No filler on this one guys. Still has records yet to be broken. It basically created the blueprint for the American female "pop star" for the next 25 years.